Fish bait



Patented Mar. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES ENT ortica My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a sh bait and has for it's object the provision of a fish bait so constructed and arranged that the hooks will be concealed vuntil the sh strikes, whereupon the hooks will be released for embedding in the fish.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a fish bait havinga body provided with a pivoted pawl which is adapted to engage a longitudinally slidable member and retain the fish hooks in concealed position until the' pawl is released.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a fish bait of this class so constructed and arranged that upon the longitudinal movement of a member the hooks will be drawn inwardly of the body of the bait and brought intov a concealing slot.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a fish bait of this class which Will be simple in structure, economical of manufacture, durable, compact and highly eflicient in use.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

It is recognized that various modifications and changes may be made in the detail of structure illustrated Without departing from the invention and it is intended that such variations and modiflcations shall be encompassed within the scope of the claims which form a part of this application.

Forming apart of this application are drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the invention. "Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1, slightly enlarged,`

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3, showing the hooks in operative position,

` Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line G-E of Fig. 3.

As shown in thel drawing the invention cornprises a bodyI 9 which is tapered toward both ends and which is provided with a longitudinally extending bore IIJ opening into thelenlarged bore II at one end and a slightly enlarged recess I2 at its opposite end. On the under surface the body Il is provided with an inclined slot or recess I3. Slidably projected through the bores I!) and II isa rod I4 having an enlarged collar I5 preferably formed integral therewith against'which bears one vend of acoil spring I6 the other end off which bears against the end Wall Il o the bore I I. Projecting outwardly from the collar I5 is a tongue I'through which is extended'a pin I9 which alsofpasses through the eyelets 2'and 2l formed on a pair of fish hooks. Each' of these hooks is constructed as is the other and a description of one will vsuliice for both.' As shown in Fig. 4 the Veyelet 2) is formed on an angularly turned portion 22 of a shank 23 which carries the angularly turned portion 24 formed into the form of a hook and carrying the "barb" 25' at its end. Projected through the body' 9 is a pinl 2G which is positionedV adjacent one end of and partially within the slot 2l which is formed 'in the rear end of the' body 9. Attached tothe forward' end of the'rod I4 is a leader23 to which is attached the sh line 29.

Pivoted on pin 3l] projected through the body 9 isa pawl or dog 3| which is adapted to engage at one end in the recess or notch 32 formed in the rod I4. This pawl or dog 3I is normally maintained rocked into engaging position with the 'rod I4 by means 'of thedoubled-over leaf spring v33 which ise atta'chedfatv oneend to the body 9." 'Secured rigidly to the rear end of the pawl or dog 3| 'and'projecting' outwardly therefrom are the spaced-apart arms 34 and 35 which are angularly turned adjacent theirhfr'ee end 's and project beyond the end of the body 91` f In use, when the bait is in the water, whether the bait is used for casting, trolling,` or stillshing, the bait would be in the position shownin Fig. 1 and Fig. 3. When the fish would strike, it would press the arms 314 and 35 inwardly toward the body 9 so as to rock the dog V3l o ut ofL the recess 32. When the dog disengages from the recess 32 the coil spring, which would beunder compression, wouldmove the rod I4 relatively to theV body 9 into the position shown in Fig'. 4 thus causing the hooks to project outwardly as shown in Fig. 4. It will be noted from Fig. 3 that When the hooks are in the position shown in Fig. 3 they are crossed relatively to each other. Should the fish strike and the hooks be projected outwardly into the positonshown in Fig.- 4.: the fish ofcourse would be'brought into'engagement with the barbs 25. Consequently, it is seen that normally the hooks are not exposed and that lthe bait is' a body which may be easily swallowed or taken into the mouth of a sh without engaging the hooks but that as soon as the arm 34 or 35 is' pressed inwardly toward the body 3 the hooks will spring outwardly to exposed position. In order to return the hooks from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 3 it is but v necessary while grasping the body 9 to pull on the line 29. This will draw the hooks inwardly and the portion 23 of the shank will engage the end of the bore Il and be caused to rock on the pin I9 as a pivot and this engagement will continue until the hooks rest in engagement with the end of the bore Il at their line of bend as clearly appears from Fig. 3. As the rod I4 moves in response to the expansion of the spring I6 after the dog has been released from the notch 32, should the hooks be inclined to remain in the position shown in Fig. 3, the pin 26 will function to spread the hooks apart into the position shown in Fig. 4. This pin also serves as an abutment to limit the sliding movement of the rod I4 in one direction. Experience has shown that a iish bait of this class is highly ecient in use and that once the dog is tripped the hooks are always positively moved into the outward position shown in Fig. 4. The hooks when drawn into the position shown in Fig. 3 are entirely concealed in the slot 2'! which is formed in the end of the body 9.

What I claim is:

ably projected through the smaller portion of said bore and terminating at one end in the larger portion of said bore; a radially project- 1 ing collar xedly mounted on said rod inward- 1. A iish bait of the class described, comprising: a body slitted at one end to provide a slot projecting inwardly thereof, said body having a bore formed therethrough, said bore being larger at one end than at the other and said larger end of said bore opening into said slot, there being formed inwardly from the opposite end of said body an inclined slot opening at one end into the smaller portion of said bore; a rod slidably projected through the smaller portion of said bore and terminating at one end in the larger portion of said bore; a radially projecting collar fixedly mounted on said rod inwardly from said end thereof; a tongue on said rod projecting beyond said collar and forming an extension of said rod; a coil spring embracing said rod and bearing at one end against one face of said collar and at its opposite end against the end wall of the larger portion of said bore; a pair of iish hooks pivotally connected at 'one end to said tongue and each being provided with Aa shank Vangularly turned intermediate its end, said rod having a recess formed in its periphery at the portion slidable in said smaller bore; a pawl rockably mounted in said inclined slot and adapted for engaging at one of its ends in said recess for releasably holding said rod against said slidable movement, upon movement of said rod in a direction to compress said spring, said hooks, upon sliding of said rod in a direction to compress said spring, engagin-g, at a portion of their Shanks within the larger portion of said bore and the remaining portions of said looks contained within said iirst named slot; resilient means for normally maintaining said pawl in engagement with said recess; an arm projecting outwardly from said body and connected at one end to one end of said pawl for rocking said pawl to disengage the same from said recess; and a pin carried by said body and extending across the larger portion of said -bore for engaging said hooks and spreading the same apart upon movement of said rod in response to the pressure of said spring.

2. A iish bait of the class described, comprising: a body slitted at one end to provide a slot projecting inwardly thereof, said body having a bore formed therethrough, said bore being larger at one end than at the other and said larger end of said bore opening into said slot, there being formed inwardly from the opposite end of said body an inclined slot opening at one end into the smaller portion of said bore; a rod slidly from said end thereof; a tongue on said rod projecting beyond said collar and forming an extension of said rod; a coil spring embracing said rod and bearing at one end against one face of said collar and at its opposite end against the end wall of the larger portion of said Ebore; a pair of fish hooks pivotally connected at one end to said tongue and each being provided with a shank angularly turned intermediate its end, said rod having a recess formed in its periphery at the portion slidable in said smaller bore; a pawl rockably mounted in said inclined slot and adapted for engaging at one of its ends in said recess for releasably holding said rod against said slidable movement, upon movement of said rod in a direction to compress said spring, said hooks, upon sliding of said rod in a direction to compress said spring, engaging, at a portion of their Shanks within the larger portion of said bore and the remaining portions of said hooks contained within said rst named slot; resilient means for normally maintaining said pawl in engagement with said recess; an arm projecting outwardly from said body and connected at one end to one end of said pawl for rocking said pawl to disengage the same from said recess; and a pin carried by said body and extending across the larger portion of said bore for engaging said hooks and spreading the same apart upon movement of said rod in response to the pressure of said spring, the pivoted terminal portion of each of said Shanks overlying and engaging said pin.

Y 3. A fish bait of the class described, comprising: a body slitted at one end to provide a slot projecting inwardly thereof, said body havin-g a bore formed therethrough, said bore being larger at one end than at the other and said larger end of said bore opening into said slot, there being formed inwardly from the opposite end of said body an inclined slot opening at one end into the smaller portion of said bore; a rod slidably projected through the smaller portion of said bore and terminating at one end in the larger portion of said bore; a radially projecting collar xedly mounted on said rod inwardly from said end thereof; a tongue on said rod projecting beyond said collar and forming an extension of said rod; a coil sprin-g embracing said rod and bearing at one end against one face of said collar and at its opposite end against the end wall of the larger portion of said bore; a pair of ish hooks pivotally connected at one end to said tongue and each being provided with a shank angularly turned intermediate its end, said rod having a recess formed in its periphery at the portion slidable in said smaller bore; a pawl rockably mounted in said inclined slot and adapted for engaging at one of its ends in said recess for releasably holding said rod against said slidable movement, upon movement of said rod in a direction to compress said spring, said hooks, upon sliding of said rod in a direction to compress said spring, engaging, at a portion of their Shanks within the larger portion of said bore and the remaining portions of said hooks contained within said rst named slot; resilient means for normally maintaining said pawl in engagement with said recess; an arm projecting outwardly from said body and connected at one end to one end of said pawl for rocking said pawl REFERENCES CITED t? dlsengage the same from said recss; and a' The following references are of record in the p1n earned by said body and extending` across le of this patent:

the larger portion of said bore for engaging said hooks and spreading the same 'vapat upon 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS rnovemenil of said rod in response to the pressure Number Name Date of said spring, the pivoted terminal portion of 610,098 Sly 1- Aug. 30, 1898 each of said shanks overlying and engaging said 635,547 Howard Oct. 24, 1899 pin. and the angularly Icurned portion jof said 1,318,072 Gottschalk Oct. '1, 1919 Shanks engaging the bottom of said 'first named 10 1,313,073 Gott-,smak Oct. 7, 1919 slot. 1,372,831 Roderick Mar. 29, 1921 PETER P. CIESLIK. 1,812,906 Swearingen July 7, 1931 

